Self-adjusting equalizer for brakes



`lune 20, 1933.

vl?. sToKi-:s ET A1.

SELF ADJUSTING EQUALIZER FOR BRAKES Filed #July e, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORN EYS June 20, 1933. E. sToKEs ET AL SELF ADJUSTING EQUALIZER FOR BRAKES Filed July 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR AToRNEYs f@ emergency without the application of undue ments 7 and v7a are free to move at right 70 reason of vall thev wheels of the car having 8a by anysuitable means, such as, for in- 75 Patented June 20, `i933 n i' i.

Tes PATENT Fri-es EVANS STOKES .AND CLYDE M. STOKES, OF ANNA, ILLINOIS usaran SELF-ADJUS'JI)ING EQUALIZER FOR BRAKES Application `filed July 6, 1931. Serial No. 548,998.

Our invention relates toimprovements in are integral with each other. A pinion 4, self-adjusting equalizers for brakes, and it which may be tapered as shown in Figurevl, consists in the combinations, constructions, is rotatably mounted on the portion 2 and and arrangements hereinl ydescribed and may, if desired, be provided with roller bearg- Claimed n y f n ing means and secured to the shaft by any 55 yAn object of our invention is to provide suitable means, such as, for instance, collars a self-adjusting equalizer for brakes which 6 and screws 6a. On either side of the T is Yparticularly adapted for connection to shaft l, we have provided gear segments 7 foupwheel brakes, ,i and 7a which are in engagement with the l@ A further object is to provide a device of pinion el. The gear segments 7 and 7a have 60 the character` described which will add to integral collar portions 8 and 8a, respectivethe e'i'iici'ency and the life 'of the brake and at ly, whichy 'are rotatably mounted within a the same time, by rendering the braking accylindrical casing 9 which is provided within tion more uniform, will increase the useful an opening ltlthroughwhich the shaft porlife of the car, and vmore effectively safeguard tion 2 and the gear segments 7 and 7a extend. 65 the lives of its occupants. It will be observed (see Figure l) that the A further object is to provide a device of ends of the shaft portion 3 are rotatably the character described which maybe rapidly mounted within the collar portions 8 and 8a and effectively operated even in extreme and that the T shaft l and the gear segforce. y angles to the axisof the casing 9.

A further object is .to provide `a means Within the casing 9 We have provided two whereby the tendency of a car to skid, esbrake shafts ll and lla which are liXedly sepecially on wet roads, may be overcome by cured at their inner ends to the collars 8 and their movement equally and 4automatically stance, pins l2 and 12a. Vcontrolled Y All Aof the elements of our device' to the Other objects and advantages will appear left of the T shaft l have similar and equal inthe following specification, and the novel counterparts on the right side of the T shaft 3@ features ofthe invention will be 'particularly l with the exception that one vof the brake 53 pointed out in the appended claims. shafts may be made shorter in length than Qur invention is illustrated in th-e accomf the other shaft in order that the T shaft l panying drawings, forming part ofv this apmay be conveniently disposed. A detailed plica-tion, iny which description of the elements on the left side vFigure l is a'front elevational view of the of our device will .therefore be unnecessary. S5 device of our rinvention withportions partly The shaft ll is supported by roller bearbroken away, y Y- Y ing means 5 and 5a. The right vend of the Figure 2y is a plan view of the same, casing 9 is provided with an end cap y13 Figure 3 is an end elevational view 'of the which'is threadedly secured thereto and pro- 40 gear segments employed at each end of our` vided With a bearing la through which the 93 device, n Y v f c shaft llextends.- f y Figure 4 is a-section taken substantially llhe outer end of the shaft l1 may be proalong the line i- 4 of Figure 2, and vided with an integral cross arm l5 having Figure 5 is a perspective view of the brakopenings 16 adapted for receiving bolts l' ing system of an automotive vehicle depicting upon which gear segments 1S and 18a Vmay a manner in which our invention may be be rotatably mounted in a manner adapted connected4 thereto. l to engage each other substantially as shown. In carrying out our invention, We make use lOpposite the rcross arm l5 is a cross piece of a T shaft l consisting of a centrally dis- 19 which is provided with openings 2() oppo- 50 Yposed portion 2 anda Vcross portion?) which site the openings i6 and likewise adapted to 'l that the cylindrical casing 9 may extend;

through opposite aligned openings 23 in opposite frame portions 24 and Q5, respectively. A front brake rod 26 may be pivotally connected in any suitable manner at one endY to one of the projections 19a and at, the other end to a brake-,band lever 27 in a manner Well known in the art. The upper extension 19 mayy be similarly connected by a rear brake rod 26a to a brake band lever 28.

Now referring to Figure'hit Will beseen that the upper portion 35 of the T shaft 1 may be provided with an opening 29 for receiving a bolt means 30 whichA engagesy a connecting member 3l.. The member 31 is threadedly secured to connecting turnbuckle means 33 which is pivotally connected to a brake lever 34.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of ouil device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. It is apparent that when the brake lever 34 is pushed forward, the front brake rods 26 and the rear brake rods 26a. move invvardly in a manner adaptedto tighten the front and rear brake bands of the car with an equal pressure, Thebraking pressure is applied on'the right side ythrough the T shaft 1, the pinion 4, the

gear segment 7, the brakeshaft 11, the cross arm15, the bolts 17, the gear Vsegments 18 and 18a, to the brake` rods 26 andQGa, to the brake band levers 27 and 28. V

The pressure is applied on the left side of the T shaft 1` in asimilar manner. Itis apparentthat an equal amount of pressure Willv bev applied onthe rightv and left, side of the car or automotive vehicle in, such a manner that a minimum amount Vofstrength necessary to bring the vehicle to 'f-nstop.

Particular attention is directedtothefact that the pinion 4;, and the'bralre `shaft 11 are preventedy from jamming or sticking by the employment of rollerbearing means, Ve also `consider ita special: advantage ofour invention that by twisting the turnbuckle 33, the brakes'may be alla'djusted` at the same time Without the driver necessarily leaving the vehicle.

Ve claim: i

1. A brake equalizer construction for inotor vehicles of the character described adapted to be mountedon the frame of the chassis of the motor vehicle and extend through the chassisy frame on either side thereof, 'said construction comprising a rigid elongated tubular sleeve member having an open portion intermediate of its ends, a differential means movably mounted Within said sleeve adjacent the open portion and projecting through the open portion and being pivotally movable in a plane at right angles to the axis of the sleeve membenand shafts rigidly connected toopposite sides of said differential means and being rotatably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting beyond the outer ends of said sleeve member, each of said shafts being provided at their outer ends with pivotally mounted equalizing means and Withv rigid extensions whereby each of the equalizing means may be operatively connected to the4 brake vband of the motor vehicle. Y

2.' A brake equalizerv construction for motor vehicles ofY the character described adapted to be mountedA on the frame of the chassis ofz-themotor vehicle and extend through the lchassisframe on either side thereof,` said construction comprisingv a, rigidv elongatedA tubular sleeve member having an open portion intermediate ofk itsends, a differentialfmeans movably mounted withinsaid sleeve adjacent, the open portion and projecting through the open portion and being pivotally movablein a plane" atfright angles to the axis of, the sleeve member, shafts rigidly connected to opposite sides yofsaid differential means and being rotatably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting beyond the outer ends of said sleeve member, each of said shafts being provided atjtheir `outer ends with pivotally 'mounted equalizing means and With rigid extensionsy whereby each of the equalizing means maybeoperatively connected to vthe brake band ofthe motor vehicle,said

differential means comprising oppositely disposed gearl segments pivotally mounted in said sleeve member and extendingv through said openportion, and a, T-shaft pivotally securedlto said vsegments and having mounted thereon a` pinion operatively connected to each of said lgear segments.

y3. Abr'akeequalizer construction for motor vehicles of thecha-racter described adapted to be mountedon the frame of; the chassis ofthe motor vehicle4 and extend through the chassisframe oneithersidethereof, said construction comprising a rigid elongatedtubular sleeve member havingv an open portion intermediate of itsjends, afdiiferentialmeans movably mounted within said sleeve adjacent the open portion and projecting through the openv portion, andbeing pivotally movable in, afplaneatright anglesto the axis of the sleeve member, shafts j rigidly, connected to opposite sides, of said differential means f and being rotatably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting beyond they outer ends f 0f, Said sleeve, member,y each,` of said shafts being provided at their outer ends with piyotally: mounted equalizing means and 1;

with rigid extensions whereby each yof the equalizing means may be operatively connected to the brake band of the motor vehicle, said diderential means comprising oppositely disposed gear segments pivotally mounted in said sleeve memberfand extending through said open portion, and a T-shaft pivotally secured to said segments and having mounted thereon a pinion operatively connected to each of said gear segments, said'l T-shaft being adapted to be movedl pivotally by the brake lever of the motor vehicle.

el. A brake equalizer construction for motor vehicles of the character described adapted to be 'mounted on the frame of the chassis of the motor vehicle and extend through the chassis frameon either side thereof, said construction comprising a rigid elongated tubular sleeve member having an open portion in- -f termediate of its ends, a differential means movably mounted Within said sleeve adj acent the open portion and projecting through the open 'portion and being pivotally movable in a plane at right angles to the axis of the sleeve member, and shafts rigidly connected to oppositesides of said differential means and being rotatably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting beyond the outer ends of said sleeve member, each of said shafts being provided at their outer ends Y with pivotally mounted equalizing means and with rigid extensions whereby each of the equalizing means may be operatively connected to the brake band of the motor vehicle,

f', each of said shafts being adapted to extend through and be pivotally mounted on the frame of the motor vehicle chassis and being in substantial alignment with each other by reason of their being rotatably supported at their inner ends Within said sleeve member.

5. A brake equalizer construction for motor vehicles of the character described adapted to be mounted on the frame of the chassis of the motor vehicle and extend through the chassis frame on either side thereof, said construction comprising a casing having an open port-ion intermediate its f ends, a differential means movably mounted Within said casing adjacent said open portion of the same and projecting therethrough and being pivotally movable in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the casing, said differential means comprising oppositely disposed gear segments having integralk sleeve portions movably mounted in the casing and a T-shaft pivotally mounted in the sleeve portions of each of said segments and having mounted on said T-shaft a pinion intermediate of said gear segments and operatively connected thereto, and shafts rigidly connected at their inner ends to one of said sleeve portions and having their outer ends extending beyond said casing and being provided With pivotally mounted intermeshing gear segments, said gear segments being prol the motor vehicle.

6. A brake equalizer construction for motor vehicles of the character described adapted to be mountedon the frame of the chassis of the motor vehicle and extend through the chassis frame on either side thereof, said construction comprising a cas ing having an open portion intermediate its ends, a differential means movably mounted Within said casing adjacent said open portion of the same and projecting therethrough and being pivotally movable in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the casing, said differential means comprising oppositely disposed gear segments having a integral sleeve portions movably mounted in the casing and a T-shaft pivotally mounted in the sleeve portions of each of said segments and having mounted on said T-shaft a pinion intermediate ofsaid gear segments and operatively connected thereto, and shafts rigidly connected at their inner ends to one of said'sleeve portions and having their outer ends extending beyond said casing and being provided With pivotally mounted intermeshing gear segments', said gear segments being provided with a connection to the brake band of the motor vehicle, each of said shafts being held in substantial alignment With each other and having their inner ends supported by the sleeve portions of the oppositely disposed gears, the sleeve portions of said gears'and said Tshaft being supported by said casing.

EVANS STOKES. CLYDE M. STOKES. 

